NRI arrested in fraud case commits suicide in Mumbai

A 40-year-old NRI from Dubai, who was arrested in a fraud case, allegedly committed suicide by jumping off a building in suburban Andheri, police said on Monday.

Deepak Mehta was arrested on last Wednesday when he landed at the Indira Gandhi International airport in Delhi and was brought to Mumbai in connection with a fraud case registered against him by diamond trader Bhavesh Shantilal in 2007.

"On Sunday, Mehta was taken to Guru Kripa building in suburban Andheri, where his sister and nephew stay, for investigation. He pushed the police officials and tried to escape and jumped from the building," Assistant Commissioner of Police Dilip Suryavanshi said.

Police have recorded the statement of Mehta's relatives and preliminary investigations reveal that it was a case of "custodial suicide", he said.

Statements of the police officials who were part of the team present during the incident has also been recorded, he added.

According to the complaint filed by Shantilal, Mehta and his friend Nirav Mehta had approached him in February 2007 posing as diamond brokers and expressed desire to purchase diamonds.